Will The Amgen Tour Include The Mother Lode?

Sacramento, CA– Assemblymember Kristin Olsen Wednesday sent a letter to organizers of the 2011 Amgen Tour of California encouraging them to include the Sierra Nevada foothills in the upcoming race.

In her letter, she specifically urges race officials to plan the race route through the cities of Angels Camp, Sonora and Oakdale in the 25th Assembly District.

"The Amgen Tour of California brings community pride," said Olsen. "It brings tremendous economic benefits to local areas and the scenery of the foothills in particular would display such a beautiful and historical part of California. I am excited about the opportunity to bring the Amgen Tour of California to a new part of the state."

Olsen says she believes the final decisions on the specifics of the Amgen Tour route will be made in late January or early to mid February.

"We should know within the next four to six weeks what the route will be," said Olsen. "And I’m cheering Sonora, Angels Camp and Oakdale on. I’m also making personal calls to AEG and others involved in the planning."

Stage 3 of the upcoming 2011 Amgen Tour of California, which is scheduled to be held in May, will take the world class cyclists from Auburn to Modesto. As a Councilmember, Olsen was instrumental in bringing the annual race to Modesto in 2008.

Assemblymember Olsen is also the Vice-Chair of the Assembly Committee on Arts, Entertainment, Sports, Tourism and Internet Media. She represents the 25th Assembly District in the California Legislature, which includes the communities of Angels Camp, Sonora, Mariposa, Modesto, Riverbank, Oakdale, Hughson, Waterford, Chowchilla, Oakhurst and Mammoth Lakes.

Written by tina.falco@mlode.com